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. Patented Oct: 18,

C. E. FOOTE.

POWER OPERATED DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE MIXERS. APPLICATIONFILED OCT. 1, 1920.

3 SHEET$-SHEET 1.

Inventor.

Char es E'lEbpte,

. c. E. FOOTE. POWER OPERATED DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE MIXERS.APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1. 1920. 1,394,160. 7 1 atented Oct. 18, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHE 2.

4 Invenzar:

Chaclesullihote,

c. E. FOOTE. POWER OPERATED DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR CONQRETE MIXERS.

APPLICATIQN FILED OCT. 1 1.920- 1,394,160. Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Inventor:

Chaz-Zes E 101012;,

I wfiw/ l j f UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. F OO'IE, 0F NUNDA, NEW? YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE FOOTE COMPANY,OF NUNDA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

POWER-OPERATED DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE-MIXERS.

To (1Z2 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHARLns E. FooTE, a citizen ofthe United Statesresiding at Nunda, in the county of Livingston and State-of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power- OperatedDischarge Mechanism for Concrete-Mixers, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in power operateddischarge mechanism for concrete mixers and has for an object to providea device that is .ex tremely. simple in construction and exceedinglyefiicient in operation. I

As is well known to those familiar with the art some means has to beprovided for operating the discharge mechanism of the mixer, that iswhen the mixer is of the type wherein the mixing drum is not tiltable,and this discharging means is generally manually operated andnecessitates no little effort on the part of the operator.

Another object of my invention therefore is to provide a dischargemechanism that is operated wholly by power derived from the engine ofthe mixer, it being simply necessary to move or operate a hand lever,thereby bringing certain parts into cooper-avtion with a constantlyrevolving gear which will automatically revolve the discharge chute toits open or discharging position while a return of the lever to itsformer po sition will automatically {return the discharge chute to itsclosed position.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a power operateddischarge such that may be used with a discharge chute that is mountedat its one end in the opening of the mixing drum and which extendsinwardly, upwardly and at a slight angle to the opening; and to providemeans for automatically revolving this chute so that it will catch anddischarge the tumbling mixture, or on the other hand be automaticallyrevolved so that the mixture will continue to rise and fall in the drumrather than fall in thechute until the chute is again revolved to itsdischarging position.

With these and other objects in view which will be disclosed as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain new and novelconstructions and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter morePatented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application filed October 1, 1920. Serial 110. 414,065.

fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings showing a referred form of my invention;

i ure 1 is a front view of a portion of the mixer and of the poweroperated discharge mechanism, the chute being shown in its closedposition;

Fig. 2 is a similar view after the discharge mechanism has been operatedthe discharge chute beingshown in its open position;

F ig.-3 is a Side elevation showing a part of the mixer, the dischargechute being shown in its open position;

Fig. 4: is a front view of the spout of the discharge chute;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same, a part broken away for the sakeof clearness; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the same.

It might be here mentioned that only that part of the mixer is shownthat is thought necessary to illustrate the location and operation ofthe power operated discharge mechamsm.

Referring now more in detail to the several figures there is shown asupport in the form of a cross beam 1, one of two standards or uprights2, a top cross beam 3 and a mixing drum at which drum is supported onthe usual rollers 5. The drum is provided with the usual ring gears 6and 7, ring gears 6 being driven by an intermediate gear 6 mounted onastub shaft 8, which shaft is mounted in the bearing 8 secured on one ofthe cross beams 1, the gear 6 being operated by a pinion secured to theend of the main countershaft 61, which shaft is mounted in a bearing 62located on the cross beam 1. The stub shaft 8 revolves at all times thatthe mixer drum is operating. The other ring gear 7 is operated also byan intermediate gear and pinion (not shown) from the countershaft 61. Onthe end of the stub shaft 8 is a small gear 9 that re volves thedischarge chute as will shortly be described. A countershaft 8 is shownwhich is driven at all times that the mixing is in operation and on theend of this shaft is a small gear 9-that revolves the discharge chute aswill be hereinafter more fully described. r

A portion of a center cross beam 10 is shown which beam is secured tothe uprights 2 and on this beam is secured the hanger 11 in which ismounted the shaft 12 the shaft extending centrally of the dischargeopening 13 of the mixing drum 4.

Pivotally mounted on this shaft 12 is the discharge chute 14 whichcomprises the forward end or spout 15 on which a hub 16 is formed andbehind the hub is the upwardly extending flange 17 having the groove 18formed therein for the reception of the counter-weight arm 19 on whichis mounted the weight 20.

As will be noticed in the several figures the spout is sharply flaredand riveted to the rear portion thereof is the pan or trough 21 whichextends upwardly, inwardly and at an. angle to the opening of the mixingdrum as shown in Fig. 3-111 dotted hnes the pan being supported at itsrear end by the arm 22 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 2 1- in asuitably supported bearing 24'.

Referring now to the mechanism for operating the discharge chute, itwill be seen that the gear 9 on the constantly revolving stub-shaft 8extends within a gear rack 25 which rack is provided with the sets ofteeth 26 and 27 which are disposed on the opposite sides of the rack andin staggered re lation to each other. Formed on the top of this rack isthe integral arm 28 in which is pivoted the one arm 29 of a bell crank30 which crank is conveniently mounted on the shaft 31 in the bearing32. Connected at one end to the other arm 33 of the bell crank is theangularly bent connecting bar or strap 34 which bar is pivoted at itsother end to the aforementioned weight arm 19.

At one. side of the gear rack 25 is pivotally secured the clamp 35 whichis designed to be slidingly mounted on the vertically extending slidebar 36 which is slightly bent near its upper end as at 37 the upper endof this bar being pivotally connected to the arm 88 of the operatinglever 39, which lever is mounted on the bracket 4-0 secured on theupright or standard 2.

For the purpose of flexibility and for keeping the gear 9 in proper meshwith the teeth 26 Or 27 while operating the discharge chute la the lowerend of the slide bar is pivoted to the short link 41 which in turn isoivoted to the lug 4.2 on the support 43. It is to he noticed that thelength of the rack 25 is such that when it travels from its one limit tothe other by contact with the gear 9 the discharge chute will revolvefrom its open position to its closed position or vice versa.

A. handle .44 is shown secured to the spout l5 and to the weight arm 19so that the chute may be manually operated if the machine is not runningor if for any other reason desired.

The operation of the device is exceedingly simple as will be seen fromthe following:

Presupposing that the mixer is in operation and the discharge chute 14is in its closed position as shown in Fig. 1, the material being mixedwill revolve in the drum 4 until it nearly approaches the top thereofwhere it will then fall to the bottom of the drum, the trough or pan 21failing to catch any of the material as it extends when in this positionto the left of the center of the drum and is so turned that the bottomof the pan is disposed to the falling material. After the material hasbeen mixed to the proper consistency and it is desired to discharge thedrum. a movement of the handle 39 rear wardlv (Fig. 2) will force theslide bar 37' inwardly so that the teeth 26 will engage the teeth of therevolving gear 9. As this gear 8) is revolving in the direction of thearrow (Fig. 2) it will force the gear rack 25 downwardly on the slidebar 37 and through the bell crank 30 and the strap 34 revolve the chuteto its open position as shown in Fig. 2 thereby forcing the pan 21 to acentral position in the drum which will now catch the falling materialand which material will be discharged through the central opening 13 andout of the spout 15. When operating the lever 39 the slide bar 37 willalso raise, it being connected at its lower end as heretofore mentionedto the pivotal link 4-1. The

rack 25 is of such length that when it is in its uppermost or lowermostposition the gear 9 may be free to revolve without contacting witheither of the teeth 26 or 27. The parts will now be in a position asshown in Fig. 2 and when it is desired to again close the drum it isonly necessary to force the lever 39 to its former position which throwsthe teeth 27 in this instance in mesh with the gear 9 which will forcethe rack upwardly which in turn revolves the discharge chute l t to itsclosed position'the pan or trough now extending to the left and thebottom disposed to the falling mixture.

Should it be desired for any reason when the drum is not revolving toturn the discharge chute to its open position the handle 39 may be movedslightly so that the gear 9 would be disposed centrally of the teeth 26and 27 and out of contact therewith when the hand lever 44: may be thenforced downwardly.

In a separate application filed of even date herewith T have shown asomewhat similar construction as used with a pivotally mounted chute.

From the foregoing it will be seen that T have provided means foroperating the discharge by power which will greatly lighten the labor ofthe operator while at the same time I have provided an arrangement thatis highly eflicient in service and positive in operation. It is to beunderstood that many changes might be made without in any way departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A power operated discharge mechanism forrotary drum concrete mixers comprising a discharge chute extendingwithin nism for rotary drum concrete mixers, comprising a movablymounted chute extending into the drum of the mixer and at an angle tothe central axis thereof, a rotating gear for said drum, means connectedto said chute and having on its opposite side means for moving the samewhen brought into contact with said gear to thereby brin the same to itsoperativeland inoperative positions.

3. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixerscomprising a chute adapted to be moved into and out of operatingposition, a continuously revolving gear for said drum, a. rack connectedto said chute and provided with two sets of teeth and in staggeredrelation, means for forcing either set of teeth of said rack intocooperation with said gear to thereby raise and lower said rack to movesaid chute to its operative and inoperative positions.

4. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixerscomprising a rotatably mounted chute extending into the drum of themixer and at an angle to the opening therein, a continuously revolvinggear for said drum, a rack connected to said chute and normally out ofcontact with said gear and means for forcing the rack into contact withsaid gear to thereby revolve the chute to catch the tumbling materialand discharge the same.

5. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixerscomprising a rotatably mounted discharge chute extending through anopening in the drum and disposed at an angle to the central axle of thedrum, a continuously revolving gear for said drum, a rack connected tosaid chute provided with two sets of teeth, one. on each side, means forforcing the gear into contact with the teeth on one side of the rack tomove the chute to its discharging position and to then force the teethon the opposite side of the rack into mesh w1th the said gear to therebymove the chute to its closed or inoperative position.

6. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixerscomprising a movably mounted discharge chute extending within the drumof the mixer, a continuously revolving gear for said drum. a slide bar,a rack slidingly mounted on said slide bar, means connecting said chutewith said rack, a set of teeth on each side of said rack, a leverconnected to said slide bar to move said rack so that when one set ofteeth engage said gear the rack will be forced downwardly to move thedischarge chute to its operative position, and so that when the rack isagain moved the other set of teeth will engage the gear to force therack upwardly and thereby move the chute to its closed or inoperativeposition.

7. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixerscomprising a rotatably mounted discharge chute, a suitably positionedbell crank, a bar connecting said chute with one of the arms of saidbell crank, a pivotally mounted gear rack on the other arm of said bellcrank and provided with sets of teeth on its opposite sides, a slide barpivotally mounted at its lower end and said gear rack slidingly mountedon said bar, a continuously revolving gear extending within said rackand out of mesh with both sets of teeth when said rack is in its upperand lowermost positions, means connected to said slide bar to force therack inwardly and outwardly to selectively engage either of the saidsets of teeth to thereby raise and lower the rack and revolve the chuteto its operative and inoperative positions.

8. A power operated discharge mechanism for rotary drum concrete mixerscomprising a movably mounted discharge chute, said chute extending upinto the drum of themixer, a gear for said drum rack and meansoperatively connecting said chute with said rack, a slide bar pivotallymounted at its lower end and a lever for moving said slide bar pivotedto its upper end, said gear rack slidingly mounted on said bar, acontinuously revolving gear extending within said rack, two sets ofteeth on said rack and so positioned that the gear is out of mesh withboth sets of teeth when said rack is in its upper and lowermostpositions, and engaging one set of teeth when said lever is forcedoutwardly to thereby lower the rack and force the chute to itsdischarging or operative position and to engage the other set of teethwhen said lever is moved inwardly to thereby raise the rack and forcethe chute to its inoperative position.

9. In combination, a mixer drum, means for rotating said drum, a chutesupported at each of its ends and leading from said drum, meansconnected with said chute and detachably connected with said drumrotating means, and manually operated means for adjustably connectingsaid connecting means with said drum rotating means for partiallyrotating said chute in either of two opposite directions.

10. A power operated discharge mechanism for concrete mixers comprisinga rotatably mounted discharge chute extending within the drum of themixer, upwardly inclined and also normally inclined at an angle to thecentral axis of the mixing drum, a continuously revolving gear, a slidebar, :1

rack slidingly mounted on said slide bar, means connecting said chutewith said rack, a set of teeth-on each side of said rack, a leverconnected to said slide bar to move said rack so that when one set ofteeth engage said gear the rack will be forced downwardly to revolve thedischarge chute to its operative position, and so that when the rack isagain moved the other set of teeth will engage the gear to force therack upwardly and thereby revolve the chute to its closed or inope'ative position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES E. FOQTE.

